Medical Micro biology
Answer FOUR of the questions below, each question has a maximum mark of 25 points.
Explain the mechanism of action of penicillin, the mechanism of beta lactamase-mediated resistance and adjuvant-based countermeasures taken in a clinical setting. Further, explain how resistance is achieved in MRSA and why vancomycin can be used as an antibiotic of last resort against most MRSA strains (25 pt).
Have a look at Figure 1. It shows the result of Gram stain.
Describe the picture and the types of bacteria you can see in terms of shape and Gram status (5 pt).
Explain the cellular features Gram staining is based on and why this has an impact on antibiotic treatment of these isolates (5 pt).
Discuss which further tests could be conducted to identify these bacteria mentioning using a total of three examples from observational, biochemical and molecular tests. (15 pt).
Hospital-acquired infection. Name the pathogens of the ESKAPE group and common infections they cause. Describe the cellular pathogenesis and virulence factors of one of these species during an opportunistic infection of human tissue in detail. Link virulence factors to their respective target tissue, cells or organism (25 pt).
Lung pathogens. Outline the pathophysiology of an infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Describe factors that enable Mtb to survive and multiply in host macrophages. Explain why HIV co-infection is commonly associated with worse clinical outcomes of TB (25 pt).
Describe the similarities and differences in transmission to humans of malaria, rabies and the plague. Contrast the pathogens causing these diseases and discuss the suitability of control measure within the context of a OneHealth framework, highlighting success stories and controversies (25 pt).
Compare how genetic information is stored and used in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), SARS-CoV-2 and Influenzavirus (15 pt).
For infection caused by Influenzavirus, explain the mechanism behind the emergence of potentially pandemic flu strains and contrast this to seasonal flu. Describe the process for seasonal flu vaccine production (5 pt).
Explain why the unique way information is stored in HIV is key to treatment of HIV infections (5 pt).